Christine Brice-Nelson, director of School Community Youth Collaborative, says the library is a sustainable way to enjoy Colorado outdoors. The library also allows users to try out activities such as mountain biking or paddleboarding before investing in their own equipment.

They also hope youths will help run the library. For the past several years, Iinanibaa Cordova has been the young person actively involved in helping with the library and rentals.

The website allows people to view and reserve gear. Because the gear is first-come, first-serve and is available in limited supplies, it should be ordered at least 24 hours in advance. A liability form is required prior to pick up.

The equipment is purchased through funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and is available to all in the community. As of August , the library has served people for the year. Next year, the goal is to serve at least The pickup location for gear is north of the Cortez Recreation Center, by the tennis courts.

Summer hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 p. Some of the gear available for camping excursions are water jugs, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents and camping stoves. Outdoor adventure gear include life jackets, snowshoes, snow boots, bikes, disc golf sets, paddleboards, skis, sleds, river tubes and kayaks.

Other items available for a day in the park or other activity are cornhole, helmets, skateboards, scooters, tennis rackets and balls, pickleball sets, soccer balls, basketballs and more. As mentioned earlier, the company continues to search for a suitable alternative for its zippers.

What waterproofing solution Fjällräven uses instead of PFAS: The company applies an in-house waterproofing technology to its tents, which are constructed with durable and water-resistant polyester and polyamide fabrics. NEMO was born after its founder Cam Bresinger spent a sleepless night on the side of a mountain braving wind gusts in a cruddy tent.

Bresinger launched Nemo in and quickly began winning awards for his innovative design of outdoor gear. Today, NEMO is known for creating tents that optimize weight, livability, and durability according to Switchback Travel, which lists the company among the top tent brands of What waterproofing solution Nemo uses instead of PFAS: The company uses a PU-based DWR to waterproof its tents.

Mike Secot-Scherer founded The Tent Lab to offer his unique handcrafted tents to the world. His state-of-the-art tents represent the best design and technology in the industry.

They are as non-toxic as possible, free of all PFAS and noxious fire-retardant chemicals. The company is run on a platform of socially and environmentally responsible business practices. All tents have tw waterproofing elements: a PU coating and a silicone water-repellency treatment.

The company ships to the US, Canada, South America, the UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Shipping costs are higher to destinations outside the US.

A downside of PFAS-free waterproofing is that it tends to wear off more quickly. To fix this problem, you can use a PFAS-free spray or wash-in product that provides waterproofing without relying on fluorinated chemicals.

The following companies offer PFAS-free spray-on or wash-in products. For the latest scientific and policy developments related to PFAS, check PFAS Central. And to stay updated on PFAS in the headlines, new product guides, and more, sign up for our weekly email newsletter. She has lived and worked on three continents in settings ranging from community hospitals, medical schools, and multinational pharmaceutical companies to refugee camps in Greece and rural villages in Tanzania.

In , Jen transitioned into full-time writing and editing with a focus on global health equity and environmental sustainability. She lives on the island of Faial in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores and writes from her renovated farmhouse in a forest between an active volcano and the Atlantic Ocean.

Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All rights reserved. Skip to content 🍋 Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. This in-1 tool is as small as credit card and functions as a wrench, a pry-bar, a cord cutter, a bottle opener, and more, so you'll be prepared for whatever the wilderness throws your way.

Instantly transform any water source even a bucket of water into a mini on-the-go shower. For the most comfortable experience, use the S-shaped hook to hang the head from a tree branch. If you can't function let alone hike a mountain! without your daily cuppa, make sure to pack this portable coffee station.

This simple press-style machine expertly brews up to three servings of coffee or espresso in about a minute. In Kitchen Lab testing for the best single-serve coffee makers , testers loved that all parts can fit easily into a gallon baggie and are super easy to wash.

When camping, trade your standard terry cloth option for microfiber. It's lightweight, packs compactly, absorbs five times its weight in wate r , and dries in a flash.

For day trippers, a water-resistant backpack that weighs just half a pound , yet holds all the gear, food, and water you'll need from sun up to sun down.

With this soft, compact foam camping mattress, it's possible to wake up just as well rested after a night under the stars. It's particularly good for a chilly evening, since the mattress has a reflective ThermaCapture coating and heat-trapping dimples that trap radiant heat to increase overall warmth by 20 percent.

Thanks to this compact kit, your campsite can function almost as well as your own kitchen does. It contains everything you need for your post-hike feast: Four forks, four spoons, and four knives, a collapsible whisk, a pivot spoon, a pivot spatula, a utility knife, a spice shaker, two condiment containers, a cutting board, a scrubber, and a camp towel — all tucked into one durable case.

Keep some of the most essential survival gear as close to the palm of your hand as possible. This five-in-one bracelet contains a fire starter, a reliable compass, a loud emergency whistle, an emergency knife, and 12 feet of military-grade paracord, so you'll be prepared for any unforeseen threats to your safety.

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings.

She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more. The Best Thread Count for Sheets. The Best Mattresses for Kids of All Ages. The Best Down Comforters. The Best Comforters. Best Mattresses for Back Pain The Most Comfortable Couches Ever.

Missing 16 Ways to Save Money on Outdoor Gear · 1. Share gear with others on your trip · 2. Borrow from friends and neighbors · 3. Rent some gear · 4 10 Cool Camping Gadgets You Need This Summer · LifeStraw Personal Water Filter · Nanopresso · Wearable Sleeping Bag · Otterbox Venture · The North

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Free Outdoor Gadgets - Totally Free, Genuinely Useful Camping Gear · Set a Bear Alarm with Your Camp Cup · Purify Water with Bleach · More videos on YouTube · Make a Missing 16 Ways to Save Money on Outdoor Gear · 1. Share gear with others on your trip · 2. Borrow from friends and neighbors · 3. Rent some gear · 4 10 Cool Camping Gadgets You Need This Summer · LifeStraw Personal Water Filter · Nanopresso · Wearable Sleeping Bag · Otterbox Venture · The North

Allie Volpe writes about what equipment to consider, when and where to go, what apps to check out and how to be respectful of other birders. These days, waking up to current events can be, well, daunting. Gustavo Arellano, along with a diverse set of reporters from the award-winning L.

Times newsroom, delivers the most interesting stories from the Los Angeles Times every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here. Dakota Kim is a food, culture and outdoors writer living in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains who took over The Wild newsletter for a few months.

She previously worked at Sunset and Edible San Luis Obispo, and owned a restaurant. She is the daughter of Korean American immigrants who taught her that every good hike should be punctuated by a meal of kimbap at the summit.

De Los. En Español. Times Everywhere. For Subscribers. All Sections. About Us. B2B Publishing. Business Visionaries. Hot Property. Times Events. Times Store. Special Supplements.

Copyright © , Los Angeles Times Terms of Service Privacy Policy CA Notice of Collection Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Things to Do. Camping gear can be pricey, but there are bargains to be had. By Dakota Kim. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options.

Tip: You can borrow bike repair tools from the L. A hiker climbs on rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, where admission is free on April Andrea Jimenez, on the far right, leads a nature walk through Hahamongna Watershed Park. The Firelight Flask is the latter but has raised the bar for all others with its packable design and robust stainless steel construction.

The 3-piece bar set includes a ml Vacuum Insulated Flask that will keep your concoction nice and cold, as well as two double-walled 6-Shooter Tumblers designed to attach to the flask magnetically.

With a stove, portable grill, KettlePot, CoffeePress, and USB FlexLight, the award-winning BioLite CampStove Complete Cook Kit has everything you need to whip up a meal in the backcountry.

A car camping must-have, this portable wood cooking system converts the heat from a fire into electricity, allowing you to charge LED lights, mobile phones, and other gadgets when out and about. Aside from cooking, grilling, boiling water, and brewing coffee, this cool camping gadget comes with a removable 3, mAh battery and a smart LED dashboard showing the current battery status and fan speed settings.

A must-have for RV camping, this sand-free mat from CGear is purposely built to convert the awning space in front of your recreational vehicle into a mobile patio. Resistant to stains, water, and mold, the Comfort Sand-Free RV Mat also makes a great oversized, environmentally friendly picnic or camping blanket thanks to its permeable surface, which allows wind and sunlight to pass through and keep the grass beneath it healthy.

For the ultimate camping comfort, pamper yourself with the Cot One Convertible. Its light yet strong aluminum frame is complemented by an innovative lever-locking system that creates an even surface and is topped with a sturdy, breathable woven fabric for maximum comfort.

Quick to assemble and easy to carry, it makes the ideal motorcycle camping accessory. Combining stylish, sturdy design with innovative ColdCell insulation, the Hopper Flip 12 by Yeti keeps your food and drink chilled longer than most portable soft coolers on the market.

This makes it an excellent choice for a weekend getaway with friends and family, be it a camping holiday, a fishing expedition, or a trip to the beach. The interior is fully lined with food-grade antimicrobial material to prevent mold, and its ergonomic shoulder strap, along with the variety of handles on the top and sides, provides plenty of carrying options.

As its name implies, this soft pack cooler can hold up to 12 cans plus ice, but there are multiple sizes for different adventures. Designed with backpacking campers in mind, this nifty outdoor cooking appliance is made from stainless steel and offers three height options for a versatile grilling experience.

Its foldable frame and rollable grill surface allow it to collapse into a compact, portable cylinder weighing less than 1 kg. The set also includes a custom cleaning tool, an Allen key, and a microfiber cloth — all packed into a premium carrying case.

Bring your favorite tunes to the campsite with the JBL Flip 5 , one of the best portable speakers for the job. Designed for outdoor use, this rugged, refined cylinder balances excellent build quality with good performance at an affordable price.

It comes in 11 different colors to suit your tastes and gives you up to 12 hours of playtime. Another cool feature is the ability to pair this little guy with another PartyBoost-compatible speaker to fire up the party.

Combining a lightweight aluminum alloy frame with sturdy ripstop nylon, Chair Zero scores high on both comfort and portability. It lifts you 11 inches off the ground, weighs only a pound, and packs down to near-water bottle proportions. All these, coupled with the fact that it sets up in seconds, make it a must-have item on your camping gear list.

All experienced adventurers out there know that choosing the right bag can make a huge difference on a camping trip. A UCO Stormproof Match Kit is perfect to throw into your camping essentials bag.

The package includes a durable, waterproof case that floats, 3 strikers, as well as 25 windproof and waterproof matches that light up even in driving rain, heavy winds, and snow. Designed by a small group of Ph. Fire, water, food, shelter, battery operated string lights? Or at least they should be.

Some things in the great outdoors are guaranteed; like bug bites, at least one bad night of sleep and epic memories. But others—like the weather—you can never count on. Which is where one of our all-time favorite camping accessories comes into play.

The dry bag. Actually, this one is an all-time favorite no matter the outdoor adventure. You roll and clip the backpack opening to seal out moisture, making an entirely waterproof bag for all of your everything.

It really is the ultimate adventure pack. Not quite sold? You can test the waters with a more price friendly version. Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to how to make coffee while camping. There is nothing, definitively nothing, that could be better than a hot cup of joe when you roll out of that sleeping bag.

And the french press simply wins out as the best camping coffee tool there is. So the next best or maybe first best option? High-quality, instant coffee packets.

A clever creation that makes it easy for women to pee in any situation they find themselves in, this handheld funnel is more of a life essential than a cool camping gadget. Ladies, you know the feeling. Your male friends pee with grace on a roadside or off the hiking trail, and you squat in misery or hold it until a better option appears.

This little guy allows you relief whenever the feeling strikes.